A 7-feet (2.1-meter) mako shark shocked a group of high school boys and their father who were out fishing on the Maine coast when it suddenly jumped from the ocean into their charter fishing boat.
Sea Ventures Charters, the owner of the fishing boat named Lady Anne, said in a Facebook post that it was a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and thankfully no one onboard was injured by the incident.
A shortfin mako shark emerges from the water after being caught by Eric Kelly on the Kalida during the 31st North Atlantic Monster Shark Tournament on July 14, 2017, in New Bedford, Massachusetts.
Leaping Mako Shark
The families and crew were on a fishing trip off the Maine coast on August 27 when the mako shark took a bite of the bait, the New York Post reported. While reeling it in, it suddenly flew through the air by at least 10 feet as it tried to escape.
The shark momentarily disappeared under the water as the group tried to reel it in. Then, as if out of nowhere, it leaped out off the water and landed on the deck of the 38-foot Lady Anne fishing boat.
Captain Dave Sinclair told The Post in an interview on Wednesday morning that the incident happened so fast, and despite their years of experience in handling sharks, makos are special because they tend to be wild, crazy, and stunning to watch.
Sea Ventures Charters is based in St. George, Maine, where they specialize in sport fishing, diving expeditions, and other maritime adventures. The Lady Anne incident came near the end of the shark season this year. Last week, The Post also reported a shark attack on a Bahamas snorkeling excursion that killed one person.
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Mako Shark: The Fastest Shark in the Sea
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) website said that mako sharks could grow up to 13 feet long and weigh up to 1,200 pounds. The length of their pectoral fins distinguishes them, but shortfin and longfin mako sharks are fast swimmers.
Moreover, they have a reputation for their acrobatics when caught in bait, like the one posted on Facebook by Sea Ventures Charters. They could jump and flip out of the water, which is why they are famous as game fish for recreational fishermen and are known to land on fishing vessels.
Shortfin mako sharks are typically found offshore in tropical and warm waters in all oceans, but they are also sometimes seen traveling in cooler waters. According to Smithsonian Ocean, they are the fastest known species of shark that swims at speeds of 31mph (50kph) up to 46mph (74kph).
However, these qualities have also made them a target by commercial fisheries for shark fin soup, leather, and oils, and they are also caught as bycatch. Due to this, the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has listed the shortfin mako shark as a "Vulnerable" species.
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